Homework?

My daughter came home from her first day of school with a homework assignment for me. In one million words or less, I was supposed to write about her. So, this is what I wrote:

Holly


Sweet girl

Serious heart

Inquisitive mind

Very smart


Loves to cheer

And jump and run

Loves to laugh

In the sun


Second of four

Big little sis

Mother’s helper

With a kiss



Loves the Lord

Lots of fun

Child of God

Precious one



I like this kind of homework. Tee hee! (Plus it got me a much needed hug from a tween.)

What kids say...

I've been working like a madwoman on all this press release info. Today, I spent all day getting together my school visit brochure, all my news clips, and publicity photos. My desk looks like it was shelled with a "Pam" bomb. My little girl came in to see what I was doing and she said, "You must love yourself, Mom." Now, if my 13 year old would have said that, I would have grounded her, but it was my innocent, sweet 4 year old who is too astute for my own good. UGH!

I wanted to shout, "NO! I don't love myself, but this is a part of an author's duty." It's embarrassing--especially when my little girl thinks I'm a narcissist!!! ICK!

Well, it will be over soon and I can get back to normal. I should be done with all of it today. Whew!

Schedule...

I'm looking forward to next week. Even though school is starting, I only work 1 1/2 days a week, so in the mornings, I can use that time for writing. During the hot months, I work out for an hour and write for an hour. The summer has been hectic and with kids around, it's hard for me to concentrate. I'm constantly interrupted.

I'm thinking beyond my novel WIP and wondering what I'm going to do with myself since I won't have that to fall back on. Whenever a project or a brainstorm has come up, I'll quit the WIP and do that. Now that I'm almost done, the door will be wide open for me to do anything. ANYTHING! Eeps!

Starting work...

Today I started work as a writing teacher at a private school. I wish my writing would pay for me to stay home but I think that's a few years away. I do believe one day I'll be able to write full time! But children's lit doesn't pay enough (I have to have a TON of books published to make a viable income)...sigh...

I received a nice rejection today--it was from Usborne. They liked my writing and want to keep it on file for future books but they chose other writers for the two books I tried out for--ah well...

I also need to fill out my promotional stuff for my upcoming book! And I've got some sleuthing to do for other marketing avenues. If only I had more time!

My Disney trip was WONDERFUL!! What a treat. Everyone with kids should save their money and go. Disney puts so much money into each attraction (especially the new ones)--they go over and above anything imaginable. What fun! I'll try to post some pics once I get them on the computer.

Computer down...

My crummy DSL box is broken, so it's been freezing up. I feel like I'm living back on Guam. We've had power outages almost every day! Luckily, they don't last for more than a few hours. (On Guam, they'd last a few days. HA!) But then you'd get to go to the beach and snorkel the time away...ah...I miss it...

I'm hoping to write tomorrow. I wanted to today, but didn't get the computer up until tonight and I write during the morning or afternoon. Night time is for goofing off. HA! I know...a lame excuse. I used to write at night when I had magazine deadlines. But there are no deadlines now. Only me, myself, and my muse.

I was watching a Dick Van Dyke episode--Rob Petrie was writing his book, but he found a million other things to do instead of writing. I always thought that I would get more accomplished without the lure of the internet, but obviously, writers in the '60's dealt with procrastination, too...

We are hopeless!

Another quiz...

Okay...I'm procrastinating today. Hubby pronounced me queen of the Disney trip we are about to take and so, I've been pouring over TONS of mind boggling info (Would you like to see Cinderella or Goofy? Scary or whimpy rides? Where in the 100 restaurants would you like to make reservations? AHHHHH!!!) So, after four hours of this (and getting nowhere) I decided to play.

I'm...um...Captain Kirk!




Take the Star Trek Quiz

(Well, I did take the quiz a few times to get him...tee hee!)

And, yes, I'M A GEEK! If you didn't know that, you haven't been reading my blog. I'm Napoleon Dynamite for goodness sake (and I didn't have to try there...)

Death to SASE's...

Henry Holt just announced their new policy of no response unless contacted by the publisher and to not send SASE's.

Hallelujah!

So, that makes three houses with this policy (Houghton Mifflin, Dial, now Holt). I do hope more will follow. No one needs to wait 13 months for a form and no one needs to send exclusively anymore. This step of throwing away unwanted ms's is a step toward a saner writer's world!!! WEE!

Feeling famous...

It's been very strange these past few days. When I've gone into town or to the library or the orthodontist, I'm met with gracious congratulations and genuine smiles. I even went into the gym this morning and had the staff be overly warm and friendly. I've never known such generosity! I am very humbled by it. This has been a surprising reward for sticking with all the ups and downs a writer faces. I am very thankful to be in a small town! HA! Especially, such a nice small town. :-)

One thing that's been really great is the library is going to have a launch party for my book in February! So, I don't have to worry about that!

On a big happy note, one of my talented writing friends, Katherine Rollins, just had a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations, Katherine!

Tagged!

I got tagged, so I thought I'd share it here. Alison tagged me. She's got a great blog!

10 years ago

I had a three year old and a 20 month old AND was six months pregnant. I remember people asking when I was about to HAVE that baby. "Any day, right?" It was only July. I'd say, "November." Their eyes would grow to the size of two grapefruits and then they'd say, "Ahem...uh...s-sorry." They'd smile sheepishly and hurry on their way. Yeah. I wasn't a happy, fat camper. Was I writing? Who had time??

5 years ago

I was living in Guam and at the pinnicle of writing short stories. I think I had my first acceptance by Highlights there. I wrote my first novel there, too. I only had about four chapters done when an agent requested it. I wrote feverishly for two months and completed it. Since then, it's gone through many major revisions. Needless to say, the agent didn't want it in its first draft state. (Egad!)

1 year ago

I wrote several picture books and had my second pb acceptance at this time last year. Also, I went to Chautauqua where I met many of my favorite authors (Jerry & Eileen Spinelli, Linda Sue Park) and some fabulous editors!

yesterday

Finished up a cover for my requested novel and sent my "baby" out. Sigh...suffered from PSD--post submission depression, a common ailment that attacks most emotionally challenged writers (ALL OF US!)

tomorrow

I am getting a housekeeper because hubby can't take the "writer-grundge" that creeps around a house cared for by a bibliophile. Taking teen to orthodontist, having someone fix our broken drawers, and hosting my monthly book club. We will be discussing City of Ember.


5 snacks I enjoy

SKITTLES, chips and guacamole, dried squid, octapus, and Oreo cookie Blasts from Sonic (yes, I live in a small town!)

5 bands/artists that I know the lyrics to most of their songs

Um...there are rock bands/artists out there??

5 things I would do with a $100,000,000

Egad! Give half away and then I wouldn't know what to do with the other half. Start a publishing company? Nah...I wouldn't want to die an early death...

5 locations I would like to run away to

Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii...

5 bad habits I have

Drinking Rockstar energy drinks (ZING!), poor housekeeping, obsessions (movies, computers, books, etc.), procrastination...

5 things I like doing

running, reading, writing, Bible study, traveling

5 things I will never wear

Belly button rings (Eww...with four kids, you wouldn't WANT me to!, granny dresses, hats...I'll wear anything else (I think.)

5 t.v. shows I like(d)

I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, Cheers, Survivor, Lizzie McGuire

5 movies I like

Any Jane Austen flick, Anything with Humphrey Bogart, Star Wars(all), Napoleon Dynamite, Meet the Parents

5 people I'd like to meet

Yeeps! I'll meet 'em all in heaven!

5 biggest joys at the moment

Husband! Kids! Health! Writing accomplishments.

5 favorite toys

Computer, PS2, mountain bike (I'm not a guy. I don't have many toys.)

5 people to tag

Everyone has already been tagged, so if you haven't--YOU'RE IT!

Feeling better...

I am recovering from "post-sub-depression". That's an author's disorder where they put a ton of work into something and then sub it to a waiting editor who may lance it with a rejection letter at any moment. It doesn't occur very often with my picture books. I think that's because they are relatively easier (for me) to compose. I spend maybe three months total on one and not more than six months, but a novel contains years of work. I have more invested and so, when someone gets interested, I get a high that lasts until I send it out.

I've had LOTS of good news lately, so I'm sure most people, especially those who are trying to get published, are thinking I'm acting ridiculous, but I think it happens to many people. And I'm sorry to say doesn't automatically quit once you get published. I do feel better about it today. My novel is in the Lord's hands and I have peace in that.

I am looking forward to getting my kids in school and scheduled. I'll be able to schedule my writing time better. I'm writing "in the cracks" as I heard Jerry Spinelli once say. Or was that Eileen? Anyway, that's how I write. In snippets.

I don't think I'll be writing for the rest of the week. I've done a lot this summer and I feel I've accomplished much. But next week, I'm going back to my WIP. It needs to be finished by September so I can work on the revision. I'd love to start looking for an agent by the end of the year.

It's...outta here...

Well, I've done it. One month's worth of tedious, mind-bending work has just been tied up with a rubberband and sent out. Actually, it's been about four years worth of work, but who's counting. And it's my most beloved--my first. We'll see what the future has in store...

Now, I'm free to work on my WIP of five years and counting. Will I ever get this novel done? What always sidetracks me is self-doubt and fear. I've put LOTS of research into this and I question myself whether I've put in enough and then I question whether anyone will like it and then I question whether I'll ever do it right and then I'll question...well...you get the point. Authors are poor tortured souls. I wouldn't advise the medium...

It's official!

I am officially a Charlesbridge author. My book is listed on their website and I'm actually listed in the authors page. If you want a peek at my new picture book, here it is:

Multiplying Menace

Now all that's left are reviews and the launch! Exciting!